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The Queen's Lover

2.79 of 5 stars 2.79 · rating details · 424 ratings · 119 reviews

A “deeply intelligent” and “spellbinding” historical novel of Marie Antoinette on the eve of the French Revolution (The Washington Post)

Francine du Plessix Gray’s beautifully realized historical novel reveals the untold love story between Swedish aristocrat Count Axel von Fersen and Marie Antoinette. The romance begins at a masquerade ball in Paris in 1774, when the dashi...more A “deeply intelligent” and “spellbinding” historical novel of Marie Antoinette on the eve of the French Revolution (The Washington Post)

Francine du Plessix Gray’s beautifully realized historical novel reveals the untold love story between Swedish aristocrat Count Axel von Fersen and Marie Antoinette. The romance begins at a masquerade ball in Paris in 1774, when the dashing nobleman first meets the mesmerizing nineteen-year-old dauphine, wife of the reclusive prince who will soon become Louis XVI. This electric encounter launches a love affair that will span the course of the French Revolution.

As their relationship deepens, Fersen becomes a devoted companion to the entire royal family. Roaming the halls of Versailles and visiting the private haven of Le Petit Trianon, he discovers the deepest secrets of the court, even learning the startling erotic details of Marie Antoinette’s marriage to Louis XVI. But his new intimacy with Marie Antoinette and her family is disrupted when the events of the American Revolution tear Fersen away. Moved by the cause, he joins French troops in the fight for American independence.

He returns to find France on the brink of disintegration. After the Revolution of 1789 the royal family is moved from Versailles to the Tuileries. Fersen devises an escape for the family and their young children (Marie-Thérèse and the dauphin—whom many suspect is in fact Fersen’s son). The failed attempt leads to a more grueling imprisonment, and the family spends its excruciating final days captive before the king and queen face the guillotine.

Grieving his lost love in his native Sweden, Fersen begins to sense the effects of the French Revolution in his homeland. Royalists are now targets, and the sensuous aristocratic world of his youth is fast vanishing. Fersen is incapable of realizing that centuries of tradition have disappeared, and he pays dearly for his naïveté, losing his life at the hands of a savage mob that views him as a pivotal member of the ruling class.

Scion of Sweden’s most esteemed nobility, Fersen came to be seen as an enemy of the country he loved. His fate is symbolic of the violent speed with which the events of the eighteenth century transformed European culture. Expertly researched and deeply imagined, The Queen’s Lover is a fresh vision of the French Revolution and the French royal family as told through the love story that was at its center.
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Hardcover, 292 pages

Published June 14th 2012 by Penguin

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Jan 21, 2013 Christina rated it 3 of 5 stars

For a history lover, this is a fantastic read. Confusingly, the book focuses almost entirely on the events leading up to and during the French Revolution, and other political events of 18th century Europe, rather than the love affair of Count Fersen and Marie Antoinette. The love story is definitely there and helps bring shape to all the events Fersen, the narrator, describes, but it is less important to all the history being told. For anyone who is not crazy about European history, this is not...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Barb added it

Shelves: gave-it-a-try-and-then-gave-up

I enjoyed the beginning of this book, I thought the premise of a memoir with the added perspective from the author's (Count Axel von Fersen) sister a clever one. There were some great anecdotal stories, some had me laughing out loud others had me turning up my nose at the thought of the aromas being described.

Du Plessin Gray was able to paint a vivid picture of the physical setting and shared interesting and relevant information on the history and culture of Sweden where von Fersen grew up. Unf...more

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Sep 14, 2012 Lianne added it

A rich sometimes dense portrayal of the little known story of Marie Antoinette's long term relationship with a Swedish courtier, Count Axel von Ferson. The tragic unfolding of their lives is based on actual letters between Axel and his sister Sophie who was his confidante. The author casts "Toinette" in a sympathetic light. She was a pawn of history, betrothed to Louis XXI as a fourteen year old. She tried to survive in the decadence of Versailles with the resources of her spirit and beauty, but...more

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Jul 29, 2012 Quinby6696 Frank rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book was disappointing. I was salivating at the prospect of reading a good historical novel about the relationship between the Swedish Count Axel von Fersen and his purported long term affair with Marie Antoinette. The story is told through the use of Fersen's actual memoirs and the fictional ones of his sister Sophie. The transitions between the memoirs is stilted and the combination of fact and fiction harms the flow of the narrative feels uncomfortably stiff. A good historical novel make...more

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May 12, 2012 Margo Tanenbaum rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 18th-century, france, adult

I have a weird fascination with Marie Antoinette and her family and was really looking forward to reading this new novel about Count Fersen, who was perhaps the secret love of Marie Antoinette's life and the architect of the failed escape plan to Varennes, after which the royal family was captured and soon imprisoned in Paris. I didn't feel this novel, which is told in the first person by Fersen himself with other parts narrated by his sister, added anything to my knowledge of the story or my un...more

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May 10, 2012 Jaylia3 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Based on the actual papers and letters of Count Axel von Fersen, the Swedish diplomat with a romantic attachment to Marie Antoinette, this novel is written in the form of a memoir edited and supplemented by Fersen’s sister Sophie. Sophie’s few chapters allow author Francine Du Plessix Gray to convey information Fersen himself couldn’t or wouldn’t, his own death at the hands of an anti-aristocratic mob for instance, but most of the story is Fersen’s bittersweet memories many years after the event...more

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May 03, 2012 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fiction, historical-fiction, europe

This book is a fictional tale of Count Axel Von Fersen of Sweden's memoirs. He was the lover of Marie Antoinette. The book also includes chapters from the point of view of his sister, Sophie. I really liked the telling of this story from the point of view of a memoir. You get a more intimate look at what Von Fersen was feeling and doing throughout the book. It was interesting to get inside his head.

Count Axel Von Fersen meets a young Marie Antoinette and falls for her. This book doesn't cover a...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

I began this book hoping for a good read about the relationship between Marie Antoinette and Swedish Count Axel von Fersen and was disappointed through the middle of the book when imprisionment of the French Royal family during the French Revolutin kept them apart forever. But I began to enjoy it when it began to give vivid depictions of the king and queens final days and the role von Fersen played in trying to free them. I also enjoyed the insight the author gave on the repercussions of the Fre...more

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May 26, 2012 Marti rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: zzz-books-2012, arc, bookbrowse

Thank you BookBrowse for the chance to read The Queen's Lover, an arc novel.

The Queen's Lover is about Count Axel Von Fersen and his heart's desire Marie Antoinette. The book follows his life from the time he meets Marie until his death. It is told in journal entries, letters, repeated conversations and at times by his best friend, his sister Sophie. The book highlights the affair of these two very public people before and during the French Revolution. The time of the novel really follows the de...more

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Apr 26, 2012 Patty rated it 3 of 5 stars

The life story of Marie Antoinette fascinates many a lover of historical fiction. One of the many questions not completely answered throughout time is whether she had an affair with Count Axel von Fersen of Sweden. This book reads as Count von Fersen's memoir - with some additions from his beloved sister Sophie.

Count Axel wrote a long stream of letters and kept a diary so there is quite a record of his thoughts from his lifetime. Marie Antoinette's correspondence did not survive quite as intact...more The life story of Marie Antoinette fascinates many a lover of historical fiction. One of the many questions not completely answered throughout time is whether she had an affair with Count Axel von Fersen of Sweden. This book reads as Count von Fersen's memoir - with some additions from his beloved sister Sophie.

Count Axel wrote a long stream of letters and kept a diary so there is quite a record of his thoughts from his lifetime. Marie Antoinette's correspondence did not survive quite as intact so while there are tantalizing teasers as to a relationship between the two there is nothing definitive to prove that one existed. But such are the building blocks of historical fiction.

This is definitely Count von Fersen's story and perhaps a third of it (?) encompasses his relationship with Marie Antoinette. The rest details his travels to America to help in the Revolution, a jaunt with Gustavus of Sweden, and his life after Marie Antoinette had been killed.

I still cannot decide after having read this book whether I am supposed to like Count von Fersen, despise him or just be disgusted by him. I suppose that is the sign of a good writer - letting her character speak for himself without dressing him up for current times because from all I can discern the count was a man who did not realize that his times were a changin' as the song goes. He stuck to a code that had outlived his society and he paid a severe price for it. He also seemed to have been somewhat of a pig when it came to women and rather proud of his conquests.

So, where does that leave me?

Educated, interested in learning more, repulsed? Yes, all three of these. Ms. du Plessix Gray spares nothing with her character nor with her writing style to bring this somewhat pivotal individual to life in this book. Whether or not von Fersen slept with Marie Antoinette or not he did have a deep relationship with the royal family and was responsible for the arrangements for their almost escape from France.

I learned quite a bit about the count from this book. It was an interesting way to present it. Quite a bit of it is Fersen's own words from his letters and diary entries. It is perhaps, though, misnamed as it is more about Fersen the man than Fersen the Queen's lover.
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Aug 13, 2012 Diane rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have limited knowledge about the French Revolution and Marie Antoinette, so the book was interesting from that perspective. I couldn't say how much was fact and how much was imagination, but the author claims to have done extensive research.

I was under the impression that this was going to have more of a historical fiction feel, but in reality, it felt much more like a biography. It was one of those books, that while there was interesting information in it, I couldn't wait for it to end so th...more

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May 27, 2012 Charlie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazon-vine-reviews, historical-fiction

2.5 stars
Gems: What's not to love about the French court? You know you're in for a treat whenever this part of history is the subject. The historical research and detailing is phenomenal and demonstrates the authors knowledge and care of the era. It's very well documented, precise and sticks to the basics we all know and love. Now, certain readers will appreciate this, or they may find it a bit dry. It really depends on your particular taste. Although it's listed as historical fiction, it reads...more

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May 09, 2012 Marg rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5/5

Count Axel von Fersen is a name that any Marie Antoinette fans would most likely be familiar with. As the man that she was alleged to be having an affair with, his name is inextricably linked with hers as was his life and in some ways his death.

This book is written as a memoir, relying on known history as well as actual letters than have survived from the time and using those to tell of the events of the relationship between Axel and Marie Antoinette as well as many other major events of th...more

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May 08, 2012 Susan Johnson rated it 2 of 5 stars

I really really wanted to like this book but it just wasn't possible. It was an interesting premise but I just felt like it pandered too much to what the author thought the readers wanted. The story was about Marie Antoinette's affair with Swedish nobleman, Axel von Fersen. The queen was 19 and Fersen was a very haughty, wealthy man who counted the King of Sweden and the King of France as friends. Apparently he had few morals. Not only did he have an affair with the Queen but with numerous marri...more

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Dec 25, 2012 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

When I read this book, I felt like I was actually reading two books- one, a story about Marie Antoinette, and two, a story about Axel von Fersen. I enjoyed the Marie Antoinette story; the Axel von Fersen one, not so much. Although I am sure that his behaviour would be appropriate for his time period, he came across as a self-satisfied jerk, especially in the last part of the book. In addition, if you are looking for a story with anything approximating a happy ending, this isn't it- the main char...more

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Oct 19, 2012 Margaret Sankey rated it 2 of 5 stars

By using Axel von Ferson's actual letters, Gray locks herself into haveing to sympathetically explain the mindset of a late 18th century international (French-Swedish-British-Russian) aristocrat who can both recognize good government and be dazzled to the point of idiocy by the personal appeal of Marie Antoinette. I know my Lost Cause people, so I know that you can be very conscious of ruining yourself, your family and entire countries by following someone you idolize out of personal connection...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Jodi rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: not sure

Shelves: books-set-in-france, historical-fiction

How funny that I picked up another book about Marie Antoinette so soon after reading the last book about her just a week ago. Honestly, this book just didn't flow for me. The author needed to pick just one voice to tell the story instead of both Count Axel von Ferson AND his sister Sophie. I sometimes had to go back to the start of the chapter to figure out who was telling the story. Also, I know the author was trying to give it some historical authenticity but the large chunks of Ferson's writi...more

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May 21, 2012 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult

As I dive further and further into the genre of Historical Fiction, I've realized something. The more you enjoy the historical period surrounding the story? The more you'll love the book. In fact, I picked up The Queen's Lover mainly because I am fascinated by Marie Antoinette and everything that happened in her time period. I'd not heard a lot about her affair with Count Axel von Ferson, other than that it was a possible occurrence. So I was intrigued to see where Francine Du Plessix Gray would...more As I dive further and further into the genre of Historical Fiction, I've realized something. The more you enjoy the historical period surrounding the story? The more you'll love the book. In fact, I picked up The Queen's Lover mainly because I am fascinated by Marie Antoinette and everything that happened in her time period. I'd not heard a lot about her affair with Count Axel von Ferson, other than that it was a possible occurrence. So I was intrigued to see where Francine Du Plessix Gray would take me, and what I would be shown.

The Queen's Lover reads as Count von Fersen's memoir, showing us his life through a long stream of letters and diary entries. There is quite a lot of his thoughts recorded here and I'll admit that it was rather fascinating. The one thing that threw me off almost instantly though, was that this is much more Count von Fersen's story, and not so much Marie Antoinette's. Out of the entire book there is maybe a third that actually mentions their relationship with one another. The rest is a very detailed look at his travels, and his (ahem) conquests.

One thing I can definitely say about Du Plessix Gray's writing, is that she isn't afraid to show Count von Fersen for who he really is. There is no sugar coating here. Presented is a man in his most raw form. He was married to a code of conduct that was not too well received at that time, and definitely would be frowned upon in today's society. As I mentioned above, there is a lot of information about his conquests, and obviously his opinion of women was that they were there to be bedded. Need I say more? It's tough to decide whether or not you are supposed to pity or despise this man. However it is true that his life is definitely not dull.

Although The Queen's Lover is the title, this story is a lot more about Count von Fersen as a man and not so much as Marie Antoinette's lover. That was the one thing that kept me from fully loving this story. Nonetheless, it is a fascinating look into the time period surrounding these characters and Du Plessix Gray goes to great lengths to fully immerse you in their world. If you are a fan of Historical Fiction, and particularly of Marie Antoinette's possible love affair, this is something you'll want to check out.(less)

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May 19, 2012 Misfit rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, endless-exposition, skimmed-a-lot, show-don-t-tell, amazon-vine, french-revolution, get-it-from-the-library, snoozefest

Parts of this review will discuss events that are historical fact. If you aren't familiar with the French Revolution and the fate of royal family, it would be best to stop reading this review. And just so I don't get accused of spoiling, the book jacket and the first pages of the book make it clear that at least in this version Von Fersen and Marie Antoinette were lovers.

The Queen's Lover is the fictional memoirs of Count Axel Von Fersen, memoirs he wrote later in his life. These memoirs are bei...more Parts of this review will discuss events that are historical fact. If you aren't familiar with the French Revolution and the fate of royal family, it would be best to stop reading this review. And just so I don't get accused of spoiling, the book jacket and the first pages of the book make it clear that at least in this version Von Fersen and Marie Antoinette were lovers.

The Queen's Lover is the fictional memoirs of Count Axel Von Fersen, memoirs he wrote later in his life. These memoirs are being prepared for publication posthumously by his sister, so you get the odd chapter here and there where she inserts notes to clarify certain events and what not. I could waste time and words giving you a run down on the historical events this novel covers, but the book blurb tells you everything that happens and you could just read that and be done with it.

Sigh. Unfortunately, the memoir format does not work well, and I found Von Fersen to be a most unsympathetic leading man. I understand history says he was known to be quite the ladies man, but let's just say that the sexual details included in these supposed public memoirs are way too much information and add nothing to the story. The sexual descriptions are very clinical, and not necessarily just with the love of his life. Ick, ick, ick what he did (view spoiler). Thank goodness I'm not allowed to quote from the ARC, but if you're thinking you're going to get a fairy tale romance and twu wuv fowevar, you are going to be sadly disappointed.

As for the rest of the story? Tedious. Even Von Fersen's recounting of his attempt to get the royal family out of France was boring (Dumas does it better). Von Fersen's memoirs continue as he recounts events in France - events that he didn't personally witness - so there are endless pages of info dumping via super secret letters between him and Marie A. More info dumping when there's a gap in the Von Fersen's memoirs and the sister takes over and recaps events for you. Frankly, if you are already familiar with this period you aren't going to get anything new out of reading this novel. For those readers looking to learn more about the French Revolution and wanting to be entertained, I'd suggest reading the series written by Alexandre Dumas. At least that way, you can learn and be entertained at the same time.

2/5 stars, and I'm only giving that extra star for the descriptions of of Versailles and the court at the start of the book, I suggest passing on the rest of it. Library only, then buy it if you love it. Reviewed for Amazon Vine. (less)

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Apr 14, 2012 Jaime (Twisting the Lens) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-tours

This review will be posted on April 16th to coincide with the book tour hosted by TLC Book Tours.

The idea of Marie Antoinette is one of legend. Her grace. Her beauty. Her charm. There have been many stories told of the young queen- some of truth, some of misquoting. However, what every story told has in common is the inability to deny that she commanded a room in a quiet, powerful way with not just her beauty, but her charisma as well. She is the queen for which men found themselves speechless i...more

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Jun 01, 2012 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-things-france, historical-fiction

Francine du Plessix Gray gives us an intimate look at the French royal family in "The Queen's Lover." Told in the first person by either Swedish Count Axel von Fersen or his sister Sophie, the book examines the politics and personal lives of the Bourbon royal family and their supporters in pre- and post-Revolutionary France.

Gray was given access to von Fersen's diaries and letters that were recovered after his death, and all of the quotations from correspondence are taken directly from those ori...more

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Apr 27, 2012 Audra (Unabridged Chick) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, historical-figure-fictionalized, historicals, mood-bittersweet, mood-evocative, place-france, place-scandinavia

Okay, so, I admit it, when I saw the hero of this novel was Axel von Fersen, I immediately thought of so-dreamy-makes-lesbians-faint Jamie Dornan, who portrayed von Fersen in the 2006 Marie Antoinette. Nummy. Needless to say, that mental image helped make this novel especially awesome. But even if your mental image of Swedish courtiers isn't shaped around twenty-something Irish actors, I still think you're really going to dig this book.

Told in parts by von Fersen himself -- by way of his memoir,...more Okay, so, I admit it, when I saw the hero of this novel was Axel von Fersen, I immediately thought of so-dreamy-makes-lesbians-faint Jamie Dornan, who portrayed von Fersen in the 2006 Marie Antoinette. Nummy. Needless to say, that mental image helped make this novel especially awesome. But even if your mental image of Swedish courtiers isn't shaped around twenty-something Irish actors, I still think you're really going to dig this book.

Told in parts by von Fersen himself -- by way of his memoir, discovered by his beloved sister Sophie -- and Sophie, filling in the blanks, the story starts with von Fersen's introduction to Marie Antoinette. Despite the title, however, this novel isn't the story of a love affair, but rather, a kind of fictional autobiography by a man whose most notable distinction is that he was, once, Marie Antoinette's lover.

The end of the 18th century was a tumultuous time, and von Fersen participated in some of the most momentous events. Fighting in the American Revolution with French troops, witnessing the French Revolution firsthand, and later, the sweeping political change in Sweden, I was captivated by his life. (I had no idea that pretty face had such an interesting back story!)

I'm struggle with how to describe the writing style, the feel of the narrative; this is a very biographical novel that reads, almost, like a piece of non-fiction. However, that worked for me: it was easy to imagine this is how von Fersen would compose his autobiography -- very precise, attempting some distance and not always succeeding. The chapters are titled with the 'author' -- either von Fersen or Sophie -- and Sophie's tone is admiring and warm. If this sounds like a disjointed way to tell a story, I promise it fits together better than I'm articulating.

Like any good historical, I was sad -- heartbroken -- to finish this book, as the novel ends with von Fersen's death. While the jacket blurb describes this novel as a 'fresh vision of the French Revolution and the French royal family', I would actually argue that this is a fictional biography about an eyewitness to 18th century revolution. The French Revolution is a major part of the story -- and certainly shapes von Fersen -- but this book is far more about loss, love, and the reality of lofty philosophical ideals.

I can't rave about this book enough; I was taken by surprise with how much I enjoyed it and von Fersen.

(Also, if you, like me, are unfamiliar with Francine du Plessix Gray, this Paris Review article and interview provides a great introduction to a fascinating woman!)(less)

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Dec 13, 2012 Lynn rated it 2 of 5 stars

Meh. I was jazzed when I started reading the book...LOVE reading about this era of European history. However, as the book d.r.a.g.g.e.d on, I became increasingly disenchanted with the main character, Axel von Fersen. Although he had his moments, I just couldn't feel any real affection for the character...he was way too hung up on being Axel, for my taste. I also didn't think the author was able to clearly distinguish the voices of Axel and his sister Sophie, who also narrated part of the story....more

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Sep 20, 2012 Esther Bradley-detally rated it 3 of 5 stars

Francine Du Plessic Gray is an excellent writer, and I remember reading her Soviet Women after our return from living in Ukraine, and Belarus, and having traveled to Siberia.

I felt this book was well researched, but as a novel, I read another account of Marie Antoinette, the name of the author escapes me at the moment, and it was more lush and written more sensually. I don't mean sexually, but the prose was terrific. I found this more of an accounting. My book club will love it, because they rec...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Kristen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-read

NPR recommended this book as a good summer read and I questioned that recommendation on every page. I read this book to get through it, but didn't enjoy it. The start turned me off with the endless name-dropping. As I got further into the story, I had to keep reminding myself that it was a novel and not a history text. And toward the end I was just so annoyed with Von Fersen that I really didn't have any interest in reading any more about how refined or haughty he was. Maybe this narrative would...more

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Jul 07, 2012 Karen rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: gave-up-on

This book is on best seller lists and the author supposedly "expertly researched and deeply imagined" this novel. I should have picked up on the "deeply imagined." I've read several books about Louie XVI and Marie Antoinette, and although there were hints that Ferson may have been Marie Antoinette's lover, I don't recall it ever being confirmed. I picked this book up because I thought there might be new historical information about Marie Antoinette's life, but this book is just imagined garbage...more

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May 16, 2012 Lucy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Due to partiality towards my favourite Queen, Marie Antoinette, I have to admit that I was very reluctant to read this novel. I knew right off the bat that some things in this book would definitely rub me the wrong way…so let’s see how that turned out;)

Written as a memoir, Count Axel von Fersen’s story is presented to us as an edited version published by Sophie, his sister. Hence, there are passages and chapters interjected by Sophie’s account of what happened as well as those by Axel himself. T...more Due to partiality towards my favourite Queen, Marie Antoinette, I have to admit that I was very reluctant to read this novel. I knew right off the bat that some things in this book would definitely rub me the wrong way…so let’s see how that turned out;)

Written as a memoir, Count Axel von Fersen’s story is presented to us as an edited version published by Sophie, his sister. Hence, there are passages and chapters interjected by Sophie’s account of what happened as well as those by Axel himself. The historical details are incredibly palpable bringing you a sense of actually being there.

Despite the title, I found The Queen’s Lover though to be mostly about the Queen’s life rather than about her alleged lover. Many of the events that occurred are true to the history as can be attested by similar written works already seen on Marie Antoinette. That being said, there are no big surprises here when it comes to Marie Antoinette’s story.

As for the Count’s extraordinary life, it seemed that it was mostly his flagrant sexual encounters that were rendered the most descriptive. His insatiable ravaging of almost any female he encountered rendered his adulterous affairs hard to comprehend the undying love he claimed for his queen…Go figure! In contrast, his great accomplishments read more like facts that happened as these were presented through many quotes and mostly letters to his father.

One thing that pleased me about this novel was that Axel was always portrayed as respectful and caring to both the Queen and Louis XVI. Throughout the book there is not one passage that tears down the character of these two royals. The immense respect and love is felt throughout. I also appreciated the fact that there were no vulgar descriptions or any graphics at all when mentioning the suggestive of Axel and the Queen’s more than friendly relationship (surprising considering the overly descriptive info with his other flings!).

This fact-filled memoir of Count Axel von Fersen’s chapter in Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI’s life is an interesting read.

I reviewed the Queen's Lover as part of the TLC Book Tours(less)

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Oct 24, 2012 Jay rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

This was a dnf for me. It's like the book couldn't figure out what it was..or maybe I just didn't like what it was. It read like a fictionalized memoir, which I guess is fine but then don't title The Queen's Lover and then make it not about their love affair. I don't really care about you going off to war. Or stories from your sister. I skimmed through the first 6 chapters, only really reading the parts about Marie Antoinette, which was the only reason I was reading in the first place and then d...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Vicki Seamons rated it 2 of 5 stars

I was excited to read this book because I had just finished a book on Marie Antoinette and was curious to see how this compared and read what happened after the revolution started. This is called a novel, but it is more like a non-fiction due to it being written from letters and journals from Count Axel von Fersen. It is written by his sister and it switches from his sister, Sophie von Fersen to the Count. It is interesting from the history side but I enjoy an historical novel that is an histori...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Sarah Wagner rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: france, historical-fiction

I thought the concept of this novel was very intriguing, but I struggled to read it and kept thinking that the story could have been better told. For those who don't know, the Swedish count Axel von Fersen was an alleged lover of the tragic French Queen Marie Antoinette and not unlike the French Queen Axel suffered a tragic end. Fersen's life is certainly worthy of a novel, but I felt this one failed to live up to the task. First of all, the novel is told in the first person from Axel's point of...more

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About Francine du Plessix Gray

Francine du Plessix Gray, a Pulitzer Prize-nominated writer and literary critic, was born in Warsaw, Poland, where her father, Vicomte Bertrand Jochaud du Plessix, was a French diplomat - the commercial attaché. She spent her early years in Paris, where a milieu of mixed cultures and a multilingual family (French father and Russian émigré mother) influenced her.

Widowed when her father died in bat...more

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Books by Francine du Plessix Gray

At Home with the Marquis de Sade: A Life

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The Queen's Lover

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